“Catching them young” is commonly used in children-centred programs and is also applicable to children’s dental health. When kids are introduced to and get used to oral care on time, it can guarantee excellent dental hygiene in the future. Based on this, today’s post will be discussing ways parents can meet up with the oral needs of their children.
Dental hygiene for infants
Don’t say it’s a baby, so there is no need to clean their mouth. Please do well to clean your baby’s mouth even before they start growing teeth. When you must have finished feeding your baby, wipe their gums carefully using a gauze pad or clean, damp cloth. On your baby’s first birthday, or within 6 months of their first tooth eruption, come with them to Dental Hygienist London. Note that once your baby has a tooth, the time is right to begin brushing. And once they grow two teeth that are in contact with each other, flossing should begin.
Teeth brushing for Kids Oral Health
By brushing their teeth twice daily, you can help your child keep tooth decay and cavities at bay. Granted, babies’ first teeth are temporary, but then your child can learn how to eat and speak properly with these first teeth. Again, temporary teeth set the pace for permanent teeth to erupt. To brush your child’s teeth, use a special toothbrush for kids – the handles are easy to hold, and the bristles are small and soft enough to touch all teeth in your child’s mouth.
Where your child has not grown up to the point that they can spit post brushing, please use a toothpaste quantity the size of a grain of rice. Kids below 2 years can have their teeth cleaned with a wet toothbrush only; no toothpaste. For kids older than 3 years, a toothpaste quantity the size of a pea can be used. Children below the age of 6 years are prone to having a condition called fluorosis should they use too much fluoride when their permanent teeth are in the development stage. Although not toxic, fluorosis causes the tooth enamel to have white spots and streaks – a discolouration. We are not saying fluoride isn’t good for children; it is very powerful against tooth decay and cavities; however, using it the right way will not allow their teeth to get discoloured.
Flossing Kids Oral Health
After your baby’s two teeth begin to touch, flossing between these teeth should start. You can do this a minimum of one time everyday.
Healthy foods
A healthy recipe has a lot of benefits for both your child’s dental and general well-being. We are talking of a balanced diet loaded with appropriate nutrients. Normally, children crave sweet foods and drinks, but such consumables will do their teeth more harm than good. It is best to let them have whole grains, veggies and fresh fruits. Water is another important addition to your child’s daily meals. The efficacy of sufficient water in kids’ dental health cannot be underestimated. Again, sticky foods like candies are not good for kids’ oral health. These foods stay long enough in the mouth to encourage the activity of bacteria that cause cavities, and the consequence is an eroded enamel. As an adult, dealing with teeth problems is not easy. If that is the case, you know that it is not a walk in the park for a child to have cavities.
Orthodontic care
What is even more baffling about dental health is that even when you are keeping a healthy dental regimen, other issues can creep in. We are talking of problems that affect the teeth and jaws like an underbite, overbite, crowded teeth, crooked teeth, or extra teeth. Should your child have any orthodontic issue, don’t worry because we have professional orthodontists who can assess the condition and proffer the right orthodontic solution if necessary.
Dental check-ups
Like adults, children need a dental appointment every two times a year to have the dentist examine and clean those pearly whites. And, of course, dental appointments are opportunities to have underlying oral concerns exposed early and treated so they don’t progress into worse conditions that will cause more pain and cost more money to treat.
Children normally have anxiety at their first dental visit, but that shouldn’t be a problem for your kid as we have the finest dentists with excellent bedside manners that will put your child’s mind to rest. Just bring your kid and leave the rest to our capable hands.
We offer valuable advice on preventative dental care for children at our dental check-ups. This is important to identify lifestyle choices, food types and habits that can harm your child’s teeth.
Overall
One of the best gifts you can give your child is good dental health; it is far better than getting them all the expensive toys and sweetened foods from fast foods. Do you know that children can develop tooth sensitivity because of poor dental habits? This is very true. The worst is when your child doesn’t have any dental care knowledge; they will grow up into adults with enough teeth and gum problems to deal with.
So, as a parent, you need to be vigilant about your child’s dental health. Take charge of it until your child can learn the basics and take it up from there. These guidelines will help you set a good foundation for your child’s dental care. Should there be any issue you cannot handle, or for more information, don’t wait to visit dental hygienist near you. In fact, a hygienist will teach you more about how to take care of your children’s oral health.
